things daniel teaches us book of daniel timeline

Perhaps most surprisingly in the vision, the Roman Empire was shown existing in two forms: a strong unified form immediately following the Grecian Empire, and then a weaker ten-nation coalition far in the future. In this vision, God revealed the succession of coming Gentile empires, starting with Babylonia (cf. These men did not forget about God, but more importantly, God did not forget about these men.Īlmost immediately after Daniel’s promotion, God gave Nebuchadnezzar a vision of a statue consisting of four metals, representing four world kingdoms-a vision that would characterize most of Daniel’s prophetic ministry for the next several decades. And so it was that God demonstrated His unfailing care for His elect people even in the midst of a foreign land. After ten days, the appearances of these four men who refused to compromise exceeded that of the others, and they were promoted to being personal servants of the king. 14:3-21), Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah bravely requested only vegetables and water, trusting that the Lord would sustain them. Yet, knowing that Mosaic Law prohibited the consumption of unclean animals (cf. For that reason, they were given new Babylonian names (Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego), a Chaldean education, and daily access to the king’s food. Through a number of indoctrination tactics, Nebuchadnezzar’s goal was that these young men would forget about their history, their land, their people, and their God, and instead be fully conformed to Babylonian culture. Taken captive in 605 BC, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah and a number of other prominent young Israelite men were brought in to be evaluated for potential service to Nebuchadnezzar as royal advisors (cf. Through a series of dreams and visions, God revealed to Daniel not only much about His predestined plans for the future, but much about the coming one-world ruler who would try (unsuccessfully) to stop them. Thus, his message centered around not only the unfailing love of God for Israel, but the primacy of God over all earthly powers.

Whereas his contemporaries ministered among commoners (Jeremiah to his fellow countrymen still in Jerusalem, and Ezekiel to his fellow exiles in the outskirts of Babylon), Daniel found himself in the city among Gentile royalty. Such was the essence of Daniel’s prophetic ministry in Babylon-and for good reason. Of all the great world empires, only one will remain forever: the coming kingdom of God. Though their names may live on in the history books, their kingdoms have long been discarded.

Things daniel teaches us book of daniel timeline